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German tuning house G-Power is giving the BMW M550d Touring a makeover. Powered by a 3.0 liter TriTurbo engine, the M550d outputs, in standard form, 381 horsepower and 740 N of torque. But that doesn’t seem to be enough for those looking for extra thrills, so G-Power is giving the M550d some additional power for a total of 435 hp and 850 Nm of torque.
G-Power are using their D-Tronik 5 V1 module in order to increase the power. The module is set up so that it only releases additional power if the correct cooling water temperature has been reached. In situations where the oil temperature reaches its limits, the power output is limited.
In traffic, the D-Tronik 5 module responds to the acceleration and adjust the power accordingly.

The M550d can now accelerate to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than the stock model and just 0.2 seconds slower than the M5.
Top speed is limited to 270 km/h, but for additional money you can increase it to 300 km/h.
The car now sits on 21″ G-Power Hurricane RR forged wheels, wearing 255/30 ZR21 and 295/25 ZR21 tires.

BMW of North America is recalling certain model year 2015 428i Convertible, 428i xDrive Convertible, 435i Convertible, and 435i xDrive Convertible vehicles manufactured October 22, 2014, to February 27, 2015.
Due to a programming error, the driver’s front air bag deployment timing may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, “Occupant Crash Protection.”
If the driver’s front air bag deployment timing is incorrect, there is an increased risk of personal injury in the event of a vehicle crash.

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the air bag control module with corrected software version, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in April 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
The article 2015 BMW 4 Series Convertible airbag recall appeared first on BMW BLOG

The line that exists between massaging a classic into a more rapid version of itself and mutating it into a sacrilegious heathen is a fine one, and one often overstepped. Overzealous enthusiasts sometimes mistake ‘more’ for ‘better’ – and lose sight of their vintage sports car’s soulful purpose.
The owner of the handsome BMW 2002 featured in this recent review and photo-shoot by Petrolicious seems to have achieved a Goldilocks measure of performance and aesthetic enhancement. Having added haste and emboldened looks in equal parts, the car seems to have retained its spirit and classic appeal – at least from where I’m sitting.

In his article, the author touches upon a universal automotive truth which we at BMWBLOG have espoused for years – that it is in fact more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow; hence the massive appeal of classic BMWs.

In his own words, “…high-performance cars have been too fast for public roads for quite some time now. Nevertheless, there seems to be no end to the constant upstaging amongst auto manufacturers or the public’s appetite for the outcome. Still, the old idea of driving a slow car fast seems more relevant today than ever before…
“Angular fender flares punctuate the car’s four corners, giving this once tame BMW a stubborn, combative stance. Yellow fog lights, Minilite wheels and aggressive front air dam fashion a narrative reminiscent of old European rally competitors. From the rear, the license plate reads, “STITCH”, a reference to the car’s distinctive petrol blue paint. Radu’s background in automotive design, coupled with his inherent flair for color and apparent fetish for Disney permeate through the car’s aesthetic—the results of which are impossible for me to resist.”

Enjoy the rich photos before heading over to Petrolicious for the full review.

An airbag related recall has been announced by the NHTSA for certain 2015 BMW 4 Series:
Report Receipt Date: MAR 13, 2015NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V148000Component(s): AIR BAGSPotential Number of Units Affected: 2,067
Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
SUMMARY:
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015 428i Convertible, 428i xDrive Convertible, 435i Convertible, and 435i xDrive Convertible vehicles manufactured October 22, 2014, to February 27, 2015. Due to a programming error, the driver’s front air bag deployment timing may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, “Occupant Crash Protection.”
CONSEQUENCE:
If the driver’s front air bag deployment timing is incorrect, there is an increased risk of personal injury in the event of a vehicle crash.
REMEDY:
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the air bag control module with corrected software version, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in April 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Just a few weeks before the new DTM season gets underway in Hockenheim on the first weekend of May, the BMW teams have the opportunity to put the final touches to their BMW M4 DTM.

From 13th to 16th April, the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben will host an official ITR test. The fans are also in for a treat. They can watch the drivers and teams live as they go about their work on each of the test days. The paddock and grandstands at the Motorsport Arena will be open to spectators on all four days. The roll-out will take place between 17:00 and 18:00 on Monday 13th April. The BMW teams will then complete an intense programme of testing from 09:00 to 13:00 on the three following days.

When the BMW F15 X5 was released, it was a subtle refresh for an already stylish looking SUV. The stunning lines, aggressive looking body design and a range of BMW’s latest design cues all made this an attractive and high selling vehicle. So with hundreds of thousands of X5 models on the road, how does one differentiate from the flock?
The quick answer is: aftermarket parts.
Thus, the owner of this BMW xDrive 35i decided to take his SUV to Wheels Boutique, for some aftermarket goodies and a set of custom ADV.1 Wheels.

This BMW X5 has been equipped with a set ADV005 Track Spec CS wheels. These three-piece wheels come in sizes of 22×10.5 in the front and 22×12.5 in the rear. The finish on these is a combination of the Stainless Aluminum with a Clearcoat finish for the face of the wheels and Polished Aluminum with a Clearcoat for the lips. The result is a set of wheels that fits the vehicle well and doesn’t warrant particularly pinpoint driving. This X5 is now perfect for those Miami roads, beach restaurants and ocean drives as well.
The BMW xDrive 35i comes equipped with a 3.0 liter BMW TwinPower Turbo engine developing 300 horsepower. Enough to take this beast from 0-62 mph (0-100km/h) in just 6.1 seconds. For a rather heavy and large vehicle, the performance is impressive.

After the launch of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, BMW announced a plug-in hybrid configuration to be released at a later. The BMW 223e SAT (acronym for Sport Active Tourer) is built under the internal name XB2149M0, using the same powertrain as the one in the BMW Concept Active Tourer Outdoor, a front wheel-drive platform with an electric motor powering the rear wheels.
Combined power output of the gasoline and hybrid motor should be somewhere over 200 horsepower, allowing the hybrid to achieve some efficient, yet not breathtaking performance. BMW 223e SAT will also get the new ZHP 9-speed automatic transmission. The petrol engine in the car is the 3-cylinder 1.5 liter TwinPower turbo.
The fuel consumption is said to be around 2.2 liter per 100 km and the CO2 emissions below 50g/km. In 100% electric mode, the 223e SAT should have a range between 30 and 35 kilometers.

Other specific details of the 2 Series Active Tourer are the roof wing that helps with aerodynamics and a “mysterious” metal box on the rear axle. The interior should be the same as conventionally-powered Active Tourer. The model will benefit from the latest technology from BMW: a revamped version of Connected Drive, LED headlights, Automatic air conditioning, control of charging process via mobile app and various driving modes.
BMW will premiere the 2 Series Active Tourer eDrive at the 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show.

This BMW Active Tourer Hybrid was spied by Wimmer Fotografie in Munich.

With Mazda’s announcement of a MX-5 Club Edition, I got to thinking about small, sporty convertibles. When it comes to sporty roadsters, nothing this side of a Porsche Boxter can really top the MX-5 in terms of driving enjoyment. The MX-5 also costs under $25,000 to start, so it’s fantastic value as well. And then I got to thinking about the 2 Series, and I started to wonder whether or not I’d prefer it to an MX-5.
That sounds odd, doesn’t it? Preferring a Mazda to a BMW for a sports roadster car? Madness. Or maybe not.
BMW still makes some of the best sports cars out there, no doubt. The 2 Series is an incredible machine, one filled with the sort of fizz-inducing character missing from so many cars lately. But at what cost? The cheapest convertible BMW currently makes is the 228i convertible, which starts $37,900, or nearly $13,000 more than the MX-5. Granted, the 228i has a far more powerful, turbocharged engine, a power folding roof and an 8-Speed auto. It’s also nicer on the inside and better built. But the actual enjoyment had from both cars is far closer than that, with the Mazda possibly besting the 2er ‘vert.

Another knock against the 228i ‘vert is the gearbox. A sporty BMW convertible with no manual option? I can see that in the M4 convertible maybe, because that’s a hardcore driving machine and the DCT improves performance. But in a 228i convertible with a 2.0 liter engine? Cmon, that’s the picture perfect car for a row-your-own gearbox. Page one, chapter one of the sports car bible clearly states that all small, sporty, rear-wheel drive cars must come with a manual transmission available. There is a manual available in the lethal M235i convertible, however, the starting price of that tire-scorching car is, wait for it…$47,700! The 435i Coupe is cheaper than that to start.

BMW could learn a lot from little ole Mazda. Make the car as simple and pure as possible, give it a willing engine and a manual gearbox and it will live on in sports car history forever. I’m not saying that the 2 Series convertibles are bad cars, but they are a bit too expensive and complicated. Admittedly, BMW customers are used to having certain luxuries, like a power soft top and an automatic gearbox, but those things inflate the price to a level far too high for such a small car. I spec’d out a 228i convertible to how the average BMW customer would and it was nearly $50,000. If you have $50,000 to spend on a soft top sports car, the Porsche Boxter starts at $51,000. The 228i convertible may be a fantastic driving car, but is it as good as a Boxter?
So how does the everyman, like you or I, get themselves into a small, sporty roadster with a manual gearbox without having to sell a child? If you need a brand new car, the answer is simple. The Mazda MX-5. But being BMWBLOG, I’m sure that’s not the answer you wanted to hear, nor did I, frankly. So, if you’re in the market for a soft top BMW sports car, look in your local classifieds and find an E46 M3 convertible.

The E46 M3 one of the best sports cars to ever grace tarmac. It had tons of power, a wonderful, high-revving engine, the joy of three-pedal shifting and some of the best handling you’ll ever feel. It perfectly encapsulated the joys of an MX-5 but with more power, a better sound and better handling. Being able to drop the top might not make you look very manly, if you are indeed a man, but it’ll give you an open-air driving experience like no other. Plus you’ll be able to hear that glorious 3.2 liter inline-six even better. Finding one with low mileage is tough but they’re out there. You might have to spend a pretty penny for one, but it’ll be peanuts to the $50,000 of an M235i and it’ll be better to drive as well.
Just make sure to skip the SMG gearbox and get the manual.
The article Is E46 M3 Convertible Better Than Mazda MX-5 And M235i? appeared first on BMW BLOG